Christopher & Andrew’s destination wedding at Chateau Plombis
“Joyful. Magical. Unforgettable.”
Originally planned for June 2021, Christopher and Andrew finally tied the knot in a week-long celebration in France 350 days later, saying ‘I Do’ on 10th June 2022. It was an absolute pleasure to work with the pair to plan their wedding day and everything in-between, with a week-long adventure that began in Paris and ended in the southwest of France. The couple invited 22 of their loved ones to explore, try new things and make incredible memories!
“We reached out to a number of wedding planners in France, one thing that stood out to us was that By Joanne Weddings was just as proud to showcase the beautiful same-sex weddings she had planned on her Instagram alongside the many traditional weddings. From our first conversation she made us feel welcome and like we’d be in good hands. The Covid-19 pandemic began shortly after we started working with Jo and we couldn’t be more thankful for the steady hand with which she guided us through planning during the pandemic and then through our year-long postponement. And after all of that, she made the wedding day appear effortless!”
Christopher and Andrew’s wedding day theme was ‘Worth the Wait’ – with a dual meaning. “First and foremost, it was an acknowledgement that the wedding was postponed 350 days due to Covid-19. The second meaning of the theme was a reference to the length of our relationship. We had dated 7 years before Christopher proposed to Andrew, and now we were nearly 10 years after our first date.”
Christopher and Andrew knew they wanted to find a chateau to accommodate their wedding party. They wanted a location set within the countryside, far away from the hustle and bustle of the big cities. “One of the secondary reasons we selected Jo as our wedding planner was because of her portfolio of venues she works with. Prior to selecting a wedding planner we had done some of our own research. We were able to take that to Jo and say this style is what we are looking for,” the couple explain. Chateau Plombis boasts uninterrupted views across the valley, as well as various beautiful backdrops for their ceremony, reception and dinner.
The ceremony was hosted on the edge of the property (with those unbelievable valley views). It was just a stone’s throw from the property itself, so we designed a walkway with custom flags that featured their names, date and a crest that had been specifically designed for the wedding. The last section of the walk was filled with lanterns, pots and flower-filled vases courtesy of florist, Victoria Engelen. Christopher and Andrew exchanged their vows in front of an octagonal moon gate in the sunshine. “Walking through the woods and seeing our wedding guests gathered for the first time gave me chills. The setting was perfect,” Andrew says. They opted for a burgundy and navy colour scheme running through their outfits, decorations, flowers, favours and website, with luxurious golden accents weaved throughout.
After the ceremony, guests tucked into food and drinks while making the most of the space on offer at Chateau Plombis. “The rest of the evening went so smoothly and I really have Jo to thank for that. We didn’t have to worry about the schedule of the day, Jo provided us all the guidance and assured us our guests we’re being taken care of. By not having to worry about any of the logistics, we were able to enjoy the evening. Having our wedding with all our friends and family. At a beautiful chateau. In FRANCE!”
A custom tablecloth printed for their sweetheart table made an appearance during their reception, along with a “Step and Repeat” backdrop for their friends and family to take photographs in front of. We arranged their wedding dinner so that guests were seated at three long tables with low-profile floral garlands – the couple wanted to avoid anything tall that would potentially obstruct conversation.
Christopher and Andrew chose two signature cocktails that went down an absolute treat amongst their loved ones. Christopher opted for“Love is Whisky Business” (a Keeneland Breeze) with Wilcox Burbon, Ginger Beer, and Orange Curaçao, while Andrew’s signature drink was “You’re My Main Squeeze” made with Fair Vodka, Homemade Lemonade (which members of the wedding party made the night before!), and Mint. Friends and family then feasted on a Confit de Canard with Red Wine and Plum Sauce Served with Potato Gratin Dauphinois and Haricots Verts. ”It was a big hit with our guests,” they reminisce. For the dinner and party, James Carr, renowned as “The British DJ in France” played, keeping everyone on the dance floor from 9pm to midnight.
“The best advice we got before our wedding was to remember to enjoy it! There’s so much happening, and of course you want everything to be perfect; just trust the details to Jo and enjoy your day. It’s a truly magical experience and it goes by so quickly! Take a breath, be present in the moment, and don’t forget to have fun.”
It was an absolute pleasure working with Christopher and Andrew to plan their destination wedding in France! My diary is now open for weddings in 2023/2024 – please do enquire to discover my availability.
Joanne Braham, Wedding Planner (@byjoanneweddings)
Jean-Marc Braham, Caterer (@lechefimpeccable)
Victoria Engelen, Flowers & Décor (@victoriaengelenflowers)
Chateau Plombis, Venue (@chateauplombis)
Ben Higgins, Photographer (@boycalledweddings)
Sebastian Thomas, Videographer (@sebastianthomasfilm)
James Carr, DJ (@britishdjinfrance)
Nikki Treacy, Hair Stylist (@nikbridalhair)
Sarah Rees, Makeup Artist (@sarah_rees_mua)
Pete Mc Grane, Ceremony & Reception Guitarist (@petemcgrane)
V and B Agen, Wines, Beers & Spirits (@vandb_officiel)
